HC3 Shutter Control

[J. Stephen McDonald]

The upcoming Sony HDR-HC3 doesn't have any dedicated controls for changing the shutter speed. However, most Sony camcorders without manual controls for this, have an AE programmed mode that will allow a faster shutter to be used, as long as the light level is adequate. This function is usually contained in the "Sports" AE program. In my other Sony camcorders that have Sports mode, the shutter will go up as high as 1/500th, which is enough for most things I do. But, in looking at a posted reference to the HC3's AE programmed modes, there is no Sports mode listed. Does anyone know if this is correct or if any other AE mode provides this faster shutter feature?

[Alexander Karol]

I am sure there is a Shutter Control feature within the touch screen menu. Most of their consumer camcorders have it, don't think they would remove that from it.

[Stephen Finton]

Originally Posted by Alexander Karol

I am sure there is a Shutter Control feature within the touch screen menu. Most of their consumer camcorders have it, don't think they would remove that from it.

The "Sports" AE icon has been replaced with a picture of a potato on a couch.

[Stu Holmes]

@Stephen - LOL! good one...

Yes the sports Program AE does appear to have died a death on the HC3.
And i beleive that also manual shutter-speed control has also been zapped on the HC3.
So this would appear to be a bit limiting.

The one mode that i think will come closest to mimicking the Sports mode is (paradoxically.... but stay with me on this..) the 'Portrait' Program AE mode.

That mode is biased to give big apertures so as to give a shallower Depth-of-field as that's often the sort of thing that you want when shooting portraits.

- Assuming gain is not a factor (it won't be outside in 90% of cases) then a consequence of big aperture is a faster shutter speed.

So it's a bit of a fudge, but best shot i think to get a fast shutter-speed on the HC3 may well be this 'Portrait' Program AE mode.
- I may have 'missed' something as it's been a few weeks since i read the HC3 PDF manual, so if anybody sees something in there that helps on shutter-speeds, please go ahead and post here.

rgds

[J. Stephen McDonald]

Originally Posted by Stephen Finton

The "Sports" AE icon has been replaced with a picture of a potato on a couch.

In the Couch Potato mode, the shutter gets raised from 1/60th to 1/65th, not that it would ever be exposed to any fast action.

I have an assumption that even though there's no manual shutter control nor Sports mode on the HC3, that there may be some automatic raising of the shutter speed, if ambient conditions and other camera settings are right for it.
I'm looking for a tip about how to nudge it in the right direction to do this on its own.

[Stu Holmes]

Originally Posted by J. Stephen McDonald

In the Couch Potato mode, the shutter gets raised from 1/60th to 1/65th, not that it would ever be exposed to any fast action.

I have an assumption that even though there's no manual shutter control nor Sports mode on the HC3, that there may be some automatic raising of the shutter speed, if ambient conditions and other camera settings are right for it.
I'm looking for a tip about how to nudge it in the right direction to do this on its own.

Well Stephen, knowing Sony's designers as i do (in empirical terms..) i suspect that the camera will adhere to the standard Sony programming as regards shutter-speed dependent on EV value. - It will hang onto 1/60sec default (NTSC) or 1/50th sec. default (PAL) as long as it possibly can. Faster shutter speeds give rise to 'stroboscopic' shutter effects so i don't think the HC3 will easily stray to high shutter-speeds. Give it MASSIVE light and yes sure it will have to if it runs out of aperture or whatever.

But i think the only way you are going to exert any direct influence on it to give you faster shutter speeds short of 1pm in the Australian / New Mexico summer (substitute your own country near-ish the equator..) is to use Portrait mode. That's my opinion on it given the current knowledge available on this new model.

rgds.